Halloween parade

Because you asked about my costume ... it's below with some other Dr. Who characters in the Halloween parade!

Literary Terms Flashcards

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Period 4

Here is where period 4 left off with the game!

Block Days: Review for the Test on Friday

Hi kids,

So today we continue reviewing for the test on Friday.  Through a "board game" we reviewed all the terms you are responsible for for the eight stories that we covered.

The format of the test as follows:  Match-ups of themes to stories, multiple choice for identifying the primary conflict of the stories, and finally, fillins for the other literary terms within stories.

The game involved identifying every term possible for each of the eight stories.

If you need your notes bolstered, please see Mrs. Trojan, who copied down the notes from the board.

Mini-Quiz on "The Case of Four and Twenty Blackbirds"

Today we had a quiz on this quirky, dark comedy.  From what I saw, many of you had difficulty in identifying the CENTRAL CONFLICT of the story (Detective Jack Horner vs. The Queen of Hearts).

This is the beginning of our reviewing for a cumulative test on short stories and short story terms.

Homework:  Short Story test on FRIDAY!  This is a big one, kiddos.

"The Case of Four and Twenty Blackbirds"

Here are some links to short stories that you should know to get the most out of this weekend's story!  Click on the picture to find out even more information about the nursery rhymes!

Here is the story itself:  "The Case of Four and Twenty Blackbirds"

Here is a nursery rhyme link to "Who Killed Cock Robin" ... that gives away the killer!

Here is the one that the story is based on and explains what happened to the queen (Four and Twenty Blackbirds)  

And of course, here is (Humpty Dumpty)

Now, for further investigation, here is the link for "film noir" a genre of film, and stories, were there is usually mystery and murder, and it is always rainy and dark out.

Short Stories and Finishing the Storybirds!

Okay, enough with the NECAP's.  Let's finish off the storybirds!

Of course we will go over last night's homework - which you guys obviously need work on!

Also, today we will pass out the writing folders, and many papers will get passed back.  Any writing assignments will get put in there!

Homework:  Read the second-to-last short story that we'll read this year: "The Case of Four and Twenty Blackbirds."  There is a mini-quiz on Monday identifying the narrator, central conflict, an example of irony, and tone of the narrator.

NECAP days 7 and 8: The five-paragraph essay!

These are the last two days of the NECAP writing test - the hardest of the three tests!  The final part of the test expects you to fill THREE whole NECAP pages with writing - and get this - they expect you to know it should be in a 5-paragraph essay format!

So, in class, we are reviewing the 5-paragraph format, which I'm surprised how little you remember, being that it was drilled into your head for at least two years!

We will talk about how the 5P essay is different from "real-world" essays, and why it is still important to know how to do it, and what the elements of it are.

Homework:  Do the 5P essay outline for the question "What would an ancient Roman find similar and different from writing today?"


Special:  Tom needs a new alarm clock!  Click here to donate to the "Bacon Clock for Tom" foundation.

NECAP, DAY 6, Writing Test Strategies

Hi Folks,

Today is the last math NECAP test day.  All week we are on a block schedule until Friday, when the NECAP's are all done and we return to a regular schedule!

We reviewed and shared the NECAP dialog writing prompt, and you were given two more writing prompts from last year's NECAP writing test (released items).

First one (narrative):  Write a paragraph from an adventure story, that introduces your main character (protagonist) and gives them LOTS of characterization.

Second one (persuasive):  Write a paragraph that takes a postion on whether or not we should have a class in school that teaches kids how to save and manage money.  Give one good reason and elaborate upon it.


Homework:  The above two prompts.  Remember: fill the box!

NECAP: DAY 5, The Rules of Dialog(ue)

Well, good morning folks!

For class today, in preparation for NECAP writing tests, we will be going over the basic rules of dialog.  We went over some basic rules for quotation marks, and how they are used with dialog, but if you want an extensive list of rules, check this site out.

Homework:  Do the NECAP writing exercise (the dialog with the girl talking on the phone).

Win a Free Laptop for Writing Haikus

Okay, okay...they are not REAL haikus, because REAL haikus traditionally involve a meditation on nature and the seasons....but what the heck...free computer, right?

Remember: haikus have 5 syllables the first line, 7 the second line, and 5 the third line.

Example:  

Winter is coming:

Time to gather fire wood,

and stories to last.

Submit your own on the link below...or just for fun, you can comment on this page.

www.scholastic.com/dellhaiku

NECAP: Day 4 and Block day

Okay Friends,

Today is another block day with NECAPs.  Since everyone finished the reading portion of the test, the classes today will be having different homework than the classes that met yesterday.  The classes that meet today are discussing the rules of dialog(ue).

 Homework:  NECAP review homework #2 due Monday.

NECAP: DAY 3 and Block Day

Okay True Believers,

Today is a bit of a tricky one:  Block day, and shortened periods due to NECAP's.

In class today:

Part 1:  Reviewing the reading test prep. homework

Part 2:  Assessing/Sharing your Storybirds, continued.

Homework:  More NECAP test-prep. practice - due Monday!

NECAP: DAY TWO

We'll take a quick break from assessing the Storybirds for today to focus specifically on how to nail the NECAP reading test.

Best way to attack the reading test:

1. Read the questions first...especially the long-response questions!
2. Highlight/underline/circle information from the passage that can answer the questions...and quotes you can use for your long-response!
3. Set up your paragraph
• topic sentences
• body that has specific information and PQE
• concluding sentence
4. Reread the long-response question while you write to make sure you don't ramble.

Fill the BOX!

Homework:  Finish the Necap test prep "Town Animal Pounds"

Oh, and don't forget to vote for us on the GLEE website!  You can vote once a day!

VOTE FOR OUR SCHOOL on GLEE!

Go here and vote for your favorite school, narrated by your favorite English teacher!!

Glee Give a Note Contest

NECAP: DAY ONE

Hi folks -

Today is our first day of NECAP testing.  For 90 minutes each day, for 8 days, we will be testing.  Two tests of reading, then three math tests, and then the hardest: THREE days of writing.

A couple things to keep in mind:

• RULE #1:  fill then entire box of text when you encounter a prompt!
• On-team classes are only 30 minutes long.  There will be a flex period - but it'll be short.  No priority groups during these days.
• Bring a book - if you finish your test, and have checked it twice, read.

In class today, we will be watching and assessing our Storybirds.  No homework.

FILL THE BOX!!

And now...your moment of Zen

Sharing Storybirds

Today we are sharing our Storybirds!  Don't forget to have your rubric ready, and that it is properly filled out!

In the meantime, please feel free to check out your classmates' stories...you can read them!


Homework:  Be prepared to continue sharing Storybirds Tuesday.

Parents:  Your child's Storybird is up, please read it, and yes, you can have them published!

Storybirds Days 3 & 4

Benchmark for day 3: 7 words included, and be sure that your protagonist is both round and dynamic.

Day 4:  This is your last in-class day to work on your Storybirds - if you don't publish in class, you need to do so at home.



Homework:  Umm.  Guess.

Storybird: Day 2

By the beginning of class today, you need to have firmly decided upon which "menu choices" you will write your story upon and what collection of art you are going with.  Also, if you are doing the storybird alternate assignment, you need to have firmly decided upon that as well...remember:  if you are going to choose the alternate, you are STUCK with it, and do not get extra time.

By the end of class, you needed to have incorporated 3 of the 10 vocab words into your story.  Remember:  The meaning of the word needs to be clear from the context of the rest of the sentence - someone who didn't know the meaning of the word would be able to figure it out from the rest of the sentence!  Be sure the sentence is long enough!


Homework:  Continue to work on your storybird at home.  You should have at least 5 of the ten words in your story by tonight...aka you need to be half done.

DUE DATE IS THIS FRIDAY MORNING!

Storybird: Day 1

Hi Folks,

 You were given a rubric and project description for the storybird project last Friday.  Today through Thursday we are working on it in class.  There is no homework all week, except to continue working on your project.  It is absolutely necessary to be prepared to work in class these four days, because they are due the beginning of class on Friday, when we present them to the class.

Again, we only have four days on in-class time to work on these...so you MUST NOT PROCRASTINATE!!

Homework:  continue working on your storybird!  If you didn't choose your artist in class, you must do so at home and be ready with it by the beginning of class tomorrow!

PARENTS:  Hey, your kid will have the option to publish these projects after they are done.  From past experience, these stories look quite beautiful.  However, if you wish to have your child's story printed, it does cost money.  See the storybird website for details.